Breckland Council brought in a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dereham's town centre in March, giving officers powers to tackle street drinking, nuisance behaviour and cycling in restricted areas.

The order came after a tense public meeting in December where some 250 locals aired complaints about crime and anti-social behaviour to council leaders and police.

Much of the anger centred on the NR19 Hotel, at the top of the Market Place, which is used by councils to provide emergency housing, including for recently-released prisoners.

Around 250 locals packed in to the town's football club in December to air their concerns (Image: Henry Durand)

Locals said groups housed there gathered outside drinking, taking drugs and intimidating passers-by, and many said they no longer went into the town centre at night.

The council set up a task force and later brought in the PSPO to tackle the problems.

But a survey carried out for a six-month review of the order found........

© Eastern Daily Press